Foam nozzle for fire extinguishment



June 17, 1958 H. LACKS ET AL FOAM NOZZLE FOR FIRE EXTINGUISHMENT 7 Sheets-s 1 Filed Dec. 6, 1954 M1470 LAMBERT June 17, 1958 H. LACKS ET AL 2,839,334

FOAM NOZZLE FOR FIRE EXTINGUISHMENT Filed Dec. 6, 1954 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 HYM/M Lac/ 5 MILTON LHMBERT IN VEN TORS June 17, 1958 H. LACKS ETAL FOAM NOZZLE FOR FIRE EXTINGUISHMENT Filed Dec. 6, 1954 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VEN TOR-5. 4W4! Lacks BY M/L 70M LHMBERT June 17,1958 H. LACKS ET AL FOAM NOZZLE FOR FIRE EXTINGUISHMENT Filed Dec; 6, 1954 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 R rw June 17, 1958 H. LACKS ET AL FOAM NOZZLE FOR FIRE EXTINGUISHMENT 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 6, 1954 I!!! Il I INVENTORS. H Ymm L 0 C155 M/LTQN LHWBERT HTTO x575 June 17, 1958 H. LACKS ET AL FOAM NOZZLE FOR FIRE EXTINGUISHMENT Filed Dec. 6, 1954.

7 Sheets-Sheet 6 IN VENTORS H YMHN L n cKs MILTON 1.0 MBA-I RT June 17, 1958 H. LACKS ET AL FOAM NOZZLE FOR FIRE EXTINGUISHMENT '7 Sheets-Shet 7* Filed Dec; 6, 1954 INVENTQR. Hymn Lac/ 5" MmTo/v mneekr United States Patent FOAld NOZZLE FOR FIRE EXTINGUISHMENT Hyman Lacks and Milton Lambert, NewYork, N. Y.

Application December 6, 1954, Serial No. 473,496

16 Claims. (Cl. 299--141) (Granted under Title 35, U. S. Code (1952), see. 266) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

This invention relates to apparatus for producing foam for extinguishing fire, and more particularly an apparatus in which the foam produced is collected and discharged into the atmosphere.

An important object of the presentinvention is to provide a method and means for projecting either a wide cone-shaped pattern of foam that can be applied directly to flammable liquid fires from close by or along range solid foam stream that can be applied from a longer distance.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device to interchange readily from long to short range throw of stream or from short to long range throw of stream without the necessity of adding or discarding any element of the device and without the necessity of stopping the flow of fluid to the apparatus.

Another object of this invention is to provide an apparatus that will discharge high quality fire extinguishrnent foams at short range throw as well as at long range solid foam stream.

A further object is to provide a foam nozzle that is light of weight, portable, easily operable manually, easily maneuverable, structurally reliable, and self-contained and compact.

A feature of the invention is the provision of a tube or casing having a plurality of openings or apertures on its side wall which are provided with closures having movable means for readily opening or closing these apertures simultaneously. Locking means are provided for keeping the closures in any desired position. This arrangement provides a very simple form of apparatus .in which a wide cone-shaped pattern of foam can be produced when the apertures are open and a long range solid foam stream when the apertures are closed.

This invention finally solves a very vexing problem that is met with in fire fighting operations where foams are employed, namely, the production of satisfactory foam, by means of one device, for both short range and long range throw of foam stream.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as :the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

In carrying out a preferred form of the present invention it was found advantageous to provide a tube, the conically contracting wall of which is provided with outwhich foam may be projected for a wide cone-shaped pattern of foam for short range throw of stream. It was further found advantageous to provide hinged leaves or covers for the cut-outs or openings which are adapted to act as foam diffusers when the leaves are in the open positions and as closures for the openings when it is dcouts or openings covered over with screening through 21,839,334 Patented June 17, 1958 sired to produce a long range solid foam stream. Likewise it was found advantageous to provide a mechanical linkage to open and close the leaves simultaneously and to provide locking means for the open and. closed positions.

Fig. 1 is an end view of a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is afragmentary view taken along line 3--3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of one of the closures forming a component of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view showing the neoprene gasket fitted about the edge of the closure of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary detail of the lock forming a component of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a further fragmentary detail of the lock.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing an alternate embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8 with the closures in position.

Fig. 10 is a side elevation of the alternate embodiment of Figs. 8 and 9.

Fig. 11 is a side elevation of another embodiment.

Fig. 1.2 is a fragmentary view of a part of the view shown in Fig. 11 with the closures in open position.

Referring now to Figs. 1-7 of the drawings in detail the numeral 11 indicates a foam discharge tube or foam generator which may be provided with suitable attachment devices 12 for attachment to a nozzle, pipe or other source of suitable fluid mixture under pressure. The casing 13 of the foam discharge tube 11 is preferably a tubular member having an inlet section 14a, a tapering section 14b which serves to compact the stream of foam prior to its emergence at opening for long range solid foam stream. A plurality of tie rods 15 serve as struc tural connecting members across the tapering section 14b. One end of the tie rods is rigidly fastened in a collar 16 attached to casing 13. The other end of the tie rods is rigidly fastened in the guide ring 16a which is also fastened to casing 13.

The tapering section 14b has been divided into a plurality of equally sized segments or doors 17. Each segment 17 is pivotally connected approximately longitudinally by means of a pillow block 18 which can pivot about a fixed position, one segment 17 on each tie rod 15. When the segments 17 are pivoted about the tie rods 15 a portion of each segment falls within the contour of the original tapering section 14b and the other portion of the segment falls outside the contour of the original tapering section 1411. The said segments have the dual purpose of, firstly, serving to agitate the foam and of providing; surfaces for deflecting the foam towards the openings between the segments and secondly, to close the openings, complete thecontour of tapering section 14b, and compact the foam stream for long range throw of stream.

As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the edges of the segments 17 may be provided with rubber gasket strips 19a and 19b, to help seal the edges when the segments are in the closed position. The gasket strip portions 19a are fastened to the casing 13 while the gasket strip portion 19b is fastened to the segment 17. It may be desirable to reinforce the gasket strip mechanically with back-up plates. When the segments are in the closed position, the gasket with the back-up plates serve as position stops.

In order that all the segments 17 may be simultaneously opened or shut, a lever 20 is rigidly attached to each segment. Each lever 20 is engaged by a fork 21 which is securely fastened to a rotating ring 22. The rotating ring is adapted to turn back and forth in the guide ring 16. .An end cover 23 is bolted to the guide ring 16.

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When the rotating ring 22 is turned, the fork 21 engages one side of the lever 20, moves the lever to the desired position and is adapted to hold the lever in that position. On return travel, the fork engages the opposite side of the lever to perform a similar function.

A conical shaped screen 24 is fastened securely over a Wire cage 24a which is fastened to the casing 13 at one end and to the end cover 23 at the other end. The screen clears the segments 17 when in the open position. The screen increases the turbulence of the foams discharged through the openings between the segments with the resulting improvement of fire fighting qualities of the foams the desired position.

at short range. Openings are provided in screen 24 for each lever 20.

In order to turn the rotating ring 22, a pair of handles 25 is fastened thereto. To releasably lock the segments 17 in the open or closed position, there is provided a spring metal catch 26 secured at one end thereof to the edge of the foam discharge tube 11, the opposite or free end of said catch being adapted to engage one of the locking slots 27 cut in the rotating ring 22 in order to maintain the segments in the desired position. By operating the lock 26 and moving one of the handles 25, all the segments 17 may be either open or closed simultaneously so that it is possible to direct an excellent fire extinguishment solid stream for a great distance or give an equally excellent cone-shaped pattern of foam for close range fire fighting.

Referring now to Fig. of the drawings in detail the numeral 12 indicates a foam discharge tube or foam generator which may be provided with suitable attachment devices 13 for attachment to a nozzle, pipe or other source of suitable fluid mixture under pressure. The casing 14 of the foam discharge tube 12 is preferably a tubular member having a tapering section 14a which serves to compact and straighten the stream of foam prior to its emergence at opening 14b for long range solid foam stream.

The casing 14 is provided around its circumference with a plurality of equally sized openings 15. As best shown in Figs. 9 and 8 a closure or leaf 16 is pivotally connected approximately longitudinally to casing section 14a adjacent to each of the openings by means of hinges 17 which may be made of rubber or be of the commercially available metallic type. The said leaves have the dual purposes of, firstly, serving to agitate the foam and of providing surfaces for deflecting the foam towards the openings 15 and secondly, to close the openings 15 and compact the foam stream for long range throw of stream.

As shown in Figs. 10 and 8, the edges of the openings 15 may be provided with rubber gasket strips 18 to help seal the edges when the leaves are in the closed position. It may be desirable to reinforce the apparatus mechanically and for this purpose reinforcing ribs 19 are suitably fastened over the tapered section 14a.

A conical shaped screen 20 is fastened securely over the tapered section 14a on the outside thereof so that it covers all the openings 15. The screen increases the turbulence of the foams discharged through the openings with the resulting improvement of fire fighting qualities and improvement of the pattern of the foams at short range.

In order that all the leaves may be simultaneously opened or shut, a lever 21 is rigidly attached to each leaf. Each lever 21 is engaged by a fork 22 which is securely fastened to a rotating ring 23. The rotating ring 23 is adapted to turn back and forth in the guide 24 which is securely attached to the foam tube 12. When the rotating ring 23 is turned, the fork 22 engages one side of the lever 21, moves the lever to the desired position and is adapted to hold the lever in that position. On return travel, the fork engages the opposite side of the lever to perform a similar function. An opening 20a is provided in screen20 for each lever. A spring 25 may be provided'between the rotating ring 23 and'the-stationary guide 24 to permit positive positioning 'of the rotating ring and also to overcome any pressure required in opening the leaves 16. An end cover as is bolted to the guide 24.

In order to turn the rotating ring 23, a handle 27 is fastened thereto. To releasabiy lock the leaves in the open or closed position, there is provided a spring metal catch 28 secured at one end thereof, to the edge of the foam discharge tube 12, the opposite or free end of said catch being adapted to engage one of the locking slots 29 cut in rotating ring 23 in order to maintain the leaves in By operating the lock 28 and moving the handle 27, all the openings 15 may be either opened or closed simultaneously so that it is possible to direct an excellent fire extinguishment solid stream for a great distance or give an equally excellent cone-shaped pattern of foam for close range fire fighting.

The foam discharge tube according to this invention is extremely simple and it can be constructed in innumerable. ways provided the above prescribed requirements are fulfilled, namely the plurality of openings in the casing of. the tube, pivotally mounted closures for the openings, and a screen in the path of the foam that is projected through the said openings.

In Figs. 11 and 12 there is shown a modified form of casing, opening and closure means. In this form of the invention, the casing is provided with a pair of equally sized openings 71 disposed on opposite sides between a pair of oppositely disposed casing ribs 72. A pair of contour leaves 73 of a size to fill and complete the openings 71 are provided. Each leaf 73 has a pair of axis 74, disposed on opposite sides of the leaf. So as to pivotally mount the leaves, each axis is nestled in a hole 75 in the bearing plate 76 which is rigidly fastened to the casing rib 72. A pair of mating sector gears 77 is fastened on each. axis 74 so that when one leaf is pivoted the opposite leaf also pivots. A rubber gasket strip 78 may be attached to the edges of the leaves or the casing openings to permit suitable sealing when the leaves are in the closed position. A conical cowl 79 is fastened to the rear of the casing 70 and extends divergingly toward the forward edges of the leaves. An annular shaped screen 80 covers the opening between the cowl 79 and the casing 70. A lever 81 is rigidly fastened to a leaf and extends through a slot in the cowl boot 82 to permit opening or closing both leaves simultaneously. A spring loaded locking pin 83 connects with one of the grooves 84 to permit indexing the leaves in the closed, open or an intermediary position.

It is thus to be noted that the present invention provides a solid long range stream when all the closure members are in a closed position. In a completely open position a substantially solid conical short range stream is produced. By providing intermediate degrees of opening of the closure members, selected patterns of dispersed streams may also be produced.

It will be observed from the drawings that the total face area of the apertures in the side wall of the tube is at least about as large as the face area of the restricted discharge end of the tube or casing.

. It will also be noted that an intermediate part of the tube is convergingly tapered toward the discharge end of the tube so that when the apertures are uncovered, the back pressure created by this tapered portion on a fluid stream passing through the tube will expedite the discharge of a very substantial part of a foaming fire fighting fluid from the tube through the apertures and the screen in addition to the fluid then released from the tube at the discharge end at a much lower velocity. This prevents scattering of a fire against which the liquid is discharged.

It will also be observed that the total face area of the apertures in the side wall of'each nozzle or tube is about equal to or greater than the face area of the restricted discharge end of the tube, so that when the apertures or openings of a tube are uncovered to release some of the fire fighting foam stream through the apertures, the stream part so. released through the apertures will be substantial enough to greatly curtail the velocity of the rest of the stream that is being released at the same time through the discharge end of the nozzle tube. The low velocity streams from the discharge end of the nozzle and from the apertures may be applied directly at close range to a fire to provide a foam blanket over it without serious danger of scattering the fire. This is important when fighting fires in burning liquids where scattering of the burning liquid would be dangerous and objectionable. The tapered part of the wall expedites the diversion of some of the foam stream through the apertures when the apertures are uncovered. The stream delivered to the nozzle is a mixture of Water and a foamable material atomized into an air stream and is not a solid Stream of liquid.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

We claim:

1. A nozzle for providing streams having selected patterns comprising a tubular member having a substantially continuous inner contour and having a plurality of openings therearound intermediate the ends thereof, screening means over said openings, a plurality of hinges on said tube, one hinge at each opening, a leaf on each of said hinges, each leaf being mounted on its hinge inboard of the leaf edge, said leaves being selectively movable into closed position to close the openings and to exclude the screening means, said leaves in open position extending partly into the tubular member and partly out of the tubular member, a mechanical linkage associated with said tubular member and said leaves for moving said leaves into selected position, and means for locking said leaves into selected position.

2. A nozzle as defined in claim 1, wherein said tubular member includes a tapered section, said openings being substantially transversely disposed around said tapered section.

3. A nozzle as defined in claim 1, wherein said mechanical linkage includes a rotating member pivotably attached to said tubular member, said rotating member being in operative engagement with each of said leaves whereby the turning of said rotating member causes turning of said leaves.

4. A nozzle for providing streams of selected patterns comprising a tubular member having a substantially continuous inner contour and a plurality of openings around the member intermediate the ends thereof, screening means over said openings, a plurality of longitudinal hinges on said tube, one at each opening, a leaf on each hinge, each leaf being mounted on its hinge at its outboard edge, said leaves being selectively movable into closed position to close the openings and to exclude the screening means, and into open position to expose the openings, said leaves in open position extending entirely into the tubular member, a mechanical linkage associated with the tubular member, and the leaves for moving the leaves into selected position, and means for locking the leaves into selected position.

5. A nozzle as defined in claim 4 wherein said tubular member includes a tapered section, said openings being transversely disposed in said tapered section.

6. A nozzle for providing streams having selected patterns comprising a tubular member having a substantially continuous inner contour and having an opening there around intermediate its ends, screening means covering said opening, transverse hinge means on said tubular member associated with said opening, leaf means associated with said hinge means, said leaf means being selectively movable into closed position to close the opening and to exclude the screen andinto open position to expose the opening, said leaf means in open position extending partly into the tubular member and partly out of the tubular member, a mechanical linkage between said tube and said leaf means for moving said leaf means into selected position and means for locking said leaf means into selected position.

7. A nozzle as defined in claim 6 wherein said mechanical linkage includes gears operatively associated with said leaf means.

8. A nozzle as defined in claim 7 wherein said tubular member includes a tapered section, said opening being substantially transversely disposed around said tapered section.

9. A nozzle for providing streams having selected patterns comprising an inlet section, a discharge section, an open portion intermediate the inlet and discharge sections, screening means over said open portion, hinge means on said nozzle associated with said open portion, leaf means associated with said hinge means, said leaf means being selectively movable into open and closed positions, said ,leaf means in open position extending partly into the open portion and partly out of the open portion, and a mechanical linkage on said nozzle for moving said leaf means into selected position.

10. A nozzle as defined in claim 9 wherein said nozzle includes means for locking said leaf means into selected position.

11. A nozzle for providing streams of a fire extinguishing foam fluid selectively in different patterns comprising a tube having a bore therethrough between an entrance end and a restricted discharge end, said tube having, intermediate of its ends, a plurality of openings in its wall arranged peripherally about the tube, closure elements articulately connected to said tube, and each movable between a closed position in which it closes a related opening in the tube wall and another and open position in which it uncovers its related opening in the tube wall and then has a part extending into the tube passage to create turbulence in the stream passing end to end through said tube, and screen means disposed exteriorly of and on said tube, covering said openings and clearing said closure elements as the latter move between said positions, for causing a turbulence that increases the foaming of that part of said stream which passes through each of said openings.

12. The nozzle as set forth in claim 11, and common operating means on the exterior of the tube bore and connected to all of said closure elements for operating them together between said positions, all into closed positions in one operation, and all into open positions in another operation.

13. A high pressure, high velocity nozzle for discharging a stream of gas having a foaming component suspended thcrein comprising a single tube having a single bore, said tube being open throughout its length to define a single straight unobstructed bore path for said fluid stream from one end of the nozzle to the other, said tube having a part of its side wall, intermediate of its ends, apertured to form an unobstructed branch path from the tube bore directly to the atmosphere, screening on the exterior of the apertured part of said tube, a leaf closure articulately mounted at said tube opening and movable selectively between a closed position in which it completely closes the apertured part of said tube wall and thereby confines the fluid stream exclusively within the tube and coextensive with the tube bore, and an open position in which a part extends into and partly across said tube bore to form a branch path for some of said fluid stream through said opening and screen from the tube bore directly to the atmosphere.

14. A high pressure, high velocity nozzle for discharging a stream of gas having a foaming component suspended therein comprising a single tube having a single bore, said tube being open throughout its length to define a single unobstructed path for said stream from one end of the nozzle to the other, said tube having an opening in its wall to form abranch path from the tube bore directly to the atmosphere, a screen over and spaced from said tube opening on the exterior of the tube, a leaf hinged at said tube opening and movable selectively between a closed position in which it completely closes the opening in said tube wall throughout its length'and thereby confines the said stream exclusively within the tube and coextensive with the tube bore, and an open position in which it uncovers said opening and a part extends into and partly across said bore to provide a branch path for some of said stream through said opening and screen from the tube bore directly to the atmosphere.

15. A nozzle for laying a fire extinguishing foam blanket upon a fire selectively at short or long range, comprising a tube having a bore therethrough between a foam stream entrance end and a restricted stream discharge end, with a part of the bore intermediate of its ends tapered convergingly toward said restricted end, said tube intermediate of its ends being apertured to provide a branch passage from said bore, closure means on the tube and operable selectively thereon between one posi tion in which it closes said apertured part of the wall and another position in which it uncovers said apertured part of the wall, to permit escape therethrough of part of said stream, and a substantial part of it extends partly across the bore of the tube where it can create turbulence 8 in the part of the stream that continues to pass through said restricted end, and screening disposed on the exterior of the tube across the path of that part of the stream which is discharged from the apertured part of said wall when that apertured part is uncovered, and clearing said closure means when the latter moves out of said one position.

16. The nozzle as set forth-in claim 15, wherein said apertured part of the tube is in said convergingly tapered part of said bore.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 153,311 Bristol July 21, 269,751 Ward Dec. 26, 1882 492,119 Steele Feb. 21, 1893 563,454 Cunningham July 7, 1896 1,019,420 Brath Mar. 5, 1912 2,161,235 Schlagintweit June 6, 1939 2,277,811 Ashley et al. Mar. 31, 1942 2,570,828 Martin Oct. 9, 1951 2,739,711 Holden Mar. 27, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 9,635 Great Britain of 1898 238,084 Great Britain Aug. 13, 1925 

